While some people might enjoy eating their leftover pizza cold, I, like many of you, prefer it reheated.
I want my pizza to be crispy, hot, and perfectly reheated. So, what’s the best way to reheat leftover pizza?
The Microwave? Only if you're okay with chewy and soggy results.
What's the alternative? The air fryer.
Reheating pizza in an air fryer is the best way to bestow it with a hot, crispy crust and melty cheesy top.
To reheat leftover pizza in an air fryer, place pizza slices in a preheated air fryer. Reheat it for 3-4 minutes at 350 F. Remove the slices and enjoy.
Reheating Pizza In Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 F.
- Remove pizza slices from the refrigerator and place them on a rack to attain room temperature.
- Arrange pizza slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer. The number of slices can vary depending on the size of your air fryer and pizza slices.
- Set the temperature at 350F and time for 3-4 minutes or until the cheesy top is hot and the crust is crispy, and begin reheating.
- Place the hot pizza slices on a platter using a spatula and enjoy.
Quick Summary
Ingredients
Leftover pizza slices (homemade or Papa John’s pizza)
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Spatula
Time & Temp
Preheat Time: 3 minutes
Preheat Temperature: 350 F
Time To Reheat Pizza: 3-4 minutes
Temperature To Reheat Pizza: 350 F
How To Reheat Thick Crust Pizza
The instructions to reheat thick-crust pizza such as delicious Detroit pizza or those from other food chains are similar to those mentioned above, with one change.
Thick crust pizzas require 1-2 minutes more to properly warm up from the inside and turn their crust crispy.
Cautions: During the reheating, if you observe the pizza starting to brown, especially near the crust, reduce the temperature by 25 to 30 degrees.
Reheating Leftover Thin Crust Pizza In Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer at 350 F.
- Place thin-crust pizza slices in the air fryer basket without overlapping.
- Using a quick-heat approach, cook the pizza slices at 350 F for 3 minutes.
- Take out the pizza from the air fryer basket using a spatula and serve.
NOTE: The higher temperature allows the heat to penetrate the thin topping rapidly without over-drying it. Lower temperatures and longer time may make the pizza crust chewy.
Quick Summary
Ingredients
- Leftover thin-crust pizza slices (from a cookout, takeout of Domino’s pizza, or others)
- (Allow them to attain room temperature if previously refrigerated)
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Spatula
Time & Temp
Preheat Time: 3 minutes
Preheat Temperature: 400 F
Reheat Time: 2 minutes
Reheat Temperature: 400 F
Rewarming Deep Dish Pizza In Air Fryer
Deep dish pizzas are thicker than regular pizzas; therefore, their reheating instructions are also different.
- Preheat your air fryer to 330 F.
- Line the air fryer basket with basket liner—parchment paper or silicone liner— to prevent the pizza from sticking to the air fryer basket. (Optional)
- Carefully place the deep-dish pizza slice in your air fryer using your tongs and spatula.
- Cook it for 6 minutes at 330 F.
- After a few minutes, check if the pizza has been reheated through.
- Poke the crust with a fork or toothpick to check if it has become fluffy again and heated through. (crucial when reheating deep dish pizza).
- Once done reheating, place the slice on a platter for serving.
Quick Summary
Ingredients
- Leftover deep-dish pizza slices
Equipment
- Air fryer (for ideal results, use a high-quality unit; mine is the Instant Pot Vortex Plus ClearCook)
- Spatula
- Tongs
- Parchment paper or silicone liner (optional)
Time & Temp
Preheat Time: 3 minutes
Preheat Temperature: 330 F
Time To Reheat Deep Dish Pizza: 6 minutes
Temperature To Reheat Deep-Dish Pizza: 330 F
Using Air Fryer To Reheat Frozen Pizza
You can follow the same process for reheating frozen pizza as other types of pizzas, but with a few important considerations:
- Reheating frozen pizza may take slightly longer than reheating refrigerated pizza.
- Instead of 3-4 minutes, reheat your frozen pizza slices for 7-8 minutes or more according to your requirements.
- Start with a lower temperature, such as 350 F, and gradually increase it to 375 F and 400 F, depending on how much more heat is required to attain a crispy crust.
Crucial Insights:
- A lower temperature ensures that the cheese doesn’t overcook during reheating.
- A longer time duration ensures the pizza reheats thoroughly from the inside.
Reheating Pizza In Microwave Vs. Air Fryer
The main difference between reheating pizzas in an microwave oven vs. an air fryer lies in the time and quality of the results.
Though reheating pizza in a oven is faster than an air fryer oven combo, the pizza may come out soggy, limp, and oily.
Everything reheated pizzas shouldn’t be. On the contrary, reheating pizza results in a crispy crust and gooey cheese.
Other meals you can reheat in the air fryer:
- Reheat Fried Chicken In Air Fryer
- Reheat Burrito In Air Fryer
- Reheat Rotisserie Chicken In Air Fryer
FAQs
What is the best temperature to reheat pizza?
The best temperature to reheat pizza in an air fryer is 350F. In contrast, there is no ideal temperature setting for reheating pizza in a microwave as it relies on microwave radiation instead of conventional heating.
How long does it take to reheat pizza?
The reheating time for pizza in an air fryer ranges from 3 to 8 minutes, depending on the type—thin crust, thick crust, deep dish, or frozen. In contrast, reheating a pizza slice in the microwave can take as little as 60 seconds, making it piping hot.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how easy and quick it is to use your air fryer to reheat your leftover pizza, reviving its taste and texture. The best part is that air fryer don’t require oil during the reheating process, so the calorie count remains the same. Regarding the exact cooking time, there may be a bit of trial and error during the first few attempts. Generally, thin slices reheat quickly, while thicker ones need more time.